Painting machine



H. O. KUHLHOFF PAINTING MACHINE Filed 001:. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY$ Aug; 303 1927. H. o. KUHLHOFF rum-me uAcamE Filed Ot. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 km @N INVENTOR.

BY Hm i 2' ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

. UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HENRY O. KUHLHOFF, OF EUCLID, Of-IIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONTINENTAL PRODUCTS COMEANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, 'A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PAINTING MACHINE.

Application filed October 9, 1925. Serial No. 61,455.

This invention as indicated relates to painting machines. More particularly, it comprises an apparatus adapted especially for placing zone marks upon paving to serve as guides for traffic. Tn view of the long distance over which it is frequently, necessary to mark trafiic lanes, the use of hand marking devices is found to be too slow a process and it is also one involving considerable danger for the persons using same.

T ie principal object of the present-invention is to provide an improved type of mark ing apparatus which will be simple and eco nomical in construction and more effective in operation than such structures heretofore in use. 7 Another object of the invention is to provide a distributing wheel within the paint reservoir which will serve to apply an even coat of paintto the applicator'beltjpreliminary to the contacting of said belt with the road surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the application of pressure to the applicator belt, the belt itself not being under sufficient, tensionto be self driven and thus forming in efi'ect an endless track laid down in front of the pressure rollers.

Another object of the invention is to drive the paint applying roller at the belt speed when the belt is moved through contact with the road surface.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description. To the accomplishment of the foregoing andrelated ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principl of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing f Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the principles of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the apparatus comprises a frame 1 formed of a pair of side bars 2 provided with journals. 3 at the forward ends to receive the axle 4' upon which the large drive wheels 5 of the provided, said rollers taking the principal, weight of the paint reservoir. The tank is open at the top and the forward wall thereof is cutout adjacent its upper edge to permit the passage of the applicator belt 11 through a portion of the tank. lVithin the tank is provided a paint wheelor roller 12, said roller being adapted to have peripheralcontact with the applicator belt within and adacent the upper forward portion ofthe tank. I i I The applicator belt is preferably supported upona plurality of wheels, the upper. wheel 13 being carried in a U shaped bracket 14: which is pivotally mounted on the upper' ends of the vertical standards 8 by means-of pivots 15. shaped bracket, an extension plate 16 is pro.- vided which is received beneath a U shaped bracket 17 secured to the upper side edges of the tank by means of bolts 18 or other suit- Each of said vertical mem-v At the rearward end of theU able fastenings. An adjustment screw 19 is adapted to be engaged through a threaded opening 21' provided centrally of said U shaped bar.

portion thereof and the lower end of said screw bears against the extension plate16.

Thus by turning the handle, the position of the wheel 13 may be varied and the tension on the applicator belt changed proportione ately. This adjustment also controls the degree of contact with the paint wheel 12, and

the thickness of the coat-of paint applied.

to the belt may be modified accordingly. The lower portion of the applicator belt extends about a pair of wheels or rollers 22' and 23 which are supported upon a pair of bracketarms 24, 25.

gated body portion-provided with journals The adjustment screw has a:v handle portion at right angles to the body The bracket arm 24 comprises an clon cured at its upper end to the belt lifting lever 29 pivotally mounted upon a stud 31 secured to the upper side portion of the tank. The lever 29 is provided with an outwardly extending handle 32 and at an intermediate point has an extension 33 formed integrally I therewith which is provided at its forward end with a plurality of apertures 34 to receive one end of a cross bar 35. The opposite end of the cross bar is secured to the end of a supporting arm 33, the forward end of which is similarly provided with a.

plurality of apertures 34. The supporting arm is curved to provide clearance over the shaft 37 upon which the upper belt supporting wheel is mounted. The rearward end of the arm 36 is pivotally mounted upon a stud 38 secured to the side of the tank in a position corresponding to that of the stud 31 heretofore described. The lever 29 when drawn rearwardly is adapted to latch behind I the spring catch 30.

The bracket arms 24, 25 are preferably secured together by a brace rod 41 and the bracket arm 25 is bent outwardly to position the applicator belt slightly to one side of the central longitudinal line of the apparatus. Upon the axle 4, a large sprocket wheel 42 is mounted and a smaller sprocket wheel 43 is mounted'upon the axle 44 of the forward belt supporting roller 22. A sprocket chain 45 is engaged upon the sprocket wheels and thus the motion of the drive wheels is communicated to the forward applicator belt wheel 22 and the peripheral speed of said wheels is thus made uniform and positive. At the outer end of theshaft 46 to which is secured the paint wheel 12, there is mounted handle having a cross bar 52 at its upper end. At its lower end said handle is preferably secured to the right hand side frame member by means of a securing bracket 53.

"employed in the apparatus is transferred A drain plug 55 may be providedat one side of the tank.

The operation of the apparatus it is believed will be clear from the above description. "The paint or other coating material from theperiphery of the paintwheel as it is rotated to the under side of the applicator belt which then moves upwardly over the roller 13 and downwardly over the roller 22 into, contact with the road surface. The return movement of said applicator belt is over the small roller 23 which provides for an extended area of contact of said belt with the road surface. 7

Under normal operative conditions just sufficient tension is applied to the belt to hold the same in light frictional contact with the rollers. Such tension may be varied by means of the adjusting screw 19 which through its associated mechanism will raise or lower the position of the shaft 37 of the upper roller 13.

WVhen the lever 29 is moved rearwardly, the extension 33 thereof will be moved in an upward direction and the'rod 35 supported thereon and upon the arm 36 will be brought into contact with the under side of the applicator belt. At the same time, through the action of the bent rod 28, the rollers 22 and 23 will be moved forwardly and the tension on the belt will be relieved as well as its contact with the road-surface. The degree of contact of the rod 35 with the under side of the applicator belt maybe readily adjusted by means of the series of holes 34 at the forward ends of the members 33 and 36.

V] here the belt is in contact with the road surface, the rollers 22 and 23 will apply pressure to the inner surface of the applicator belt and will produce a satisfactory transfer of the paint on the outer surface thereof to the surface of the paving.

The position of the rollers 22 and 23 i automaticallymaintained by reason of the fact that the rearmost roller 23.1novesslightly past a vertical line through the-drive wheel axle.

lVhile reference has been made to a paint reservoir and paint, it is to be understood that any liquid mixture or compound suitable for the purpose may be used with the apparatus.

Other modes of applying the principle of: my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed. pro

vided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and dis tinctly claim as my invention. 1. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a wheeled.

structure, a paint reservoir mounted there paint reservoir mounted thereon, a wheel supported adjacent the upper edge of said on, an applicator belt supported in front of i reservoir, an applicator belt engaged over said wheel, means for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked, and means within said reservior for applying paint solely to the outer surface of said applicator belt.

3. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a wheeledstructure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a wheel adjust-ably supported adjacent the upper edge of said reservoir, an applicator belt engaged over said wheel, means for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked, and means within said reservoir for applying paint solely to'thc outer surface of said applicator belt.

4. An apparatus of the character de scribed having in. combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mount d there on, an adjustable wheel supported adjacent the upper edge of said reservoir an applicator belt engaged over said wheel. means for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked. and n'ieaus within said reservoir for applying paint solely to the outer surface of said applicator belt.

5. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon. mounted in a pivotally supported bracket adjacent to the forward upper edge of said reservoir an applicator belt engaged over said wheel, means for adjusting the position of said bracket, and means w' hin said reservoir for applying paint solely to the outer surface of said applicator belt.

6. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon a wheel mounted in a pivotally supported bracket adjacent to the forward upper dge of said reservoir, an applicator belt engaged over said wheel, an adjusting screw for control.- ling the position of said bracket, and means within said reservoir for applying paint solely to the outer surface of said applicator belt.

7. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a wheel supported adjacent the upper edge of said reservoir, an applicator belt engaged there on, a pair of wheels for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked and means within said reservoir for applying. paint to the outer surface of said applicator belt.

8. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir thereon, a wheel support a'djacent the upper edge of said reservoir, an applicator belt engaged thereon a pairv of wheels for holding said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked, and

a wh eel means within said reservoir for applying paint to the outer surface of said applicator belt.

9. An apparatus of the. character described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a wheel support adjacent to upper edge of said reservoir, an applicator bolt'engaged over said wheel, means for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked, and a paint wheel within said reservoir for applying paint to the outer surface of said applicator belt.

10. An apparatus of the. character described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a wheel support adjacent to upper edge of said reservoir, an applicator belt engaged over said wheel, means for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked, and a paint wheel immersed in said reservoir and bearing against said applicator belt while in contact with said upper supporting wheel for applying paint to the outer surface of said applicator belt.

11. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a wheel supported adjacent to the upper edge of said reservoir, an applicator belt engaged over said wheel, means for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked, a paint wheel immersed in said reservoir, and means independent of said belt contact for driving said paint wheel.

12. An apparatus of the character de. scribed having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a wheel supported adjacent to the upper forward portion of said reservoir, an applicator belt engaged over said upper wheel, means for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked, means within said reservoir for applying paint to the outer surface of said'applicator belt, and means for simultaneously lifting said belt lUC from contact with the surface to be marked and away from the upper belt supporting Wheel.

13. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a wheeled structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon, a wheel supported adjacent to the upper forward portion of said reservoir, an applicator structure, a paint reservoir mounted thereon,- a Wheel supported adjacent to the upper forward portion of said reservoir, an applicator belt engaged over said upper Wheel, means for supporting said applicator belt in contact with the surface to be marked, means Within said reservoir for applying paint to the outer surface of said applicator belt, a belt lifter bar disposed beneath said applicator belt, pivotal supports for said bar having a plurality of adjustment apertures for the same, and means to move said bar and its supports to lift said belt away from the upper belt supporting Wheel.

In apparatus off the character described, having in combination a Wheeled structure, a paint-conveying belt, means for SLlPPOltlllg said belt adjacent a source of paint supply, and rotating means for transferring paint from said source of paint sup ply solely to the outer surface of said conveying belt;

16'. in apparatus of the character described, having in combination a Wheeled structure, a movable road contacting belt carried thereby, and rotating means for transferring paint solely to the contact surface of said belt.

17. In apparatus of the character described, having in combination a Wheeled Signed by me this 5th day of October,

structure, a movable road contacting belt carried thereby, a paint reservoir, and a paint roller adapted to dip into the paint scribed, the combination of a supporting structure adapted to be moved along a road surtacc, a paint reservoir carried thereby, a belt for carrying paint from said reservoir to said road surface and means for trans terring paint solely to the outer surface of said belt from said reservoir and control ling the quantity of paint so transferred; 7

2. ii paint conveying and distributing de ice for a painting machine, comprising a paint-conveyi 11g belt, means for transferring paint solely to the outer surface thereof, and in ms for controlling the thickness of the t of paint applied to said belt.

HENRY O. KUHLHOFF. 

